Ottawa
residents and even some councillors got their first look
at a proposed list of strategic spending initiatives to
be implemented over the current term of council.

The
list includes a number of items that should receive broad-based
support among taxpayers and councillors alike, along with
items that will likely aise a few eyebrows.

The
list contains 36 initiatives in all, amounting to more
than $176 million. A number of the items were approved
by the previous council and have been incorporated in
the base budget since 2014. The base budget commitment
totals $29 million. The new funding being considered are
enhancements to those initiatives. The remaining $147
million will be spent on entirely new initiative over
the next four years, or roughly $36.75 per year.

The
largest chunk of money will be used to enhance the city's
10-year housing and homelessness plan: $16 million a year
will be invested in each of the next four years to create
neew affordable housing options.

Another $22.4 milllion will be spent on proteccting and
improve the city's forest cover: $5.6 million will be
added to the base budget commitment of $5.48 million in
each of the next four years.

Other
recommendations include...

-
$17.2 million to renew and implement the city's Economic
Development Strategy

-
$15.8 million for Queen St. streetscaping improvements

-
$9.1 million to expand the Ottawa Art Gallery and improvements
to Arts Court

-
$6.1 million in for ward-based Ottawa 2017 initiatives
including the planting of native Maple trees in special
locations and/or sesquicentennial groves

-
$5.4 million for implementation of the Renewed Action
Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture

-
$3.59 million for asset renewal in 2017 and $11 million
in 2018

-
$1.67 million to complete Environmental Assessments for
Phase 2 of the LRT project

-
$385,000 to enhance the use of social media to promote
public engagement opportunities

-
$600,000 to improve public engagement in planning matters

-
$320,000 to improve community rinks

-
$800,000 for winter cycling improvements

The Council Priority and Strategic Initiative Plan will
be tabiled at next week's finance and economic development
committee after which each council committee will vet
the list of proposed projects. The council committee meetings
will also be the only time residents can public comment
on the recommendations.